Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass. (01/24/2006)—Holy Cross used a 13-2 run in the final four minutes of the game to slide past Colgate University 75-62 in Patriot League women’s basketball action this evening at the Hart Center. Freshman guard Gretchen Polinski (Mansfield, Ohio) led all Raider scorers with a career-high 18 points and eight rebounds.
Holy Cross jumped out to a 13-8 lead at the 12:22 mark, but Polinski hit three consecutive three-pointers to spark an 11-0 run and putting Colgate ahead 19-13 at the 10:03 mark. The Crusaders responded with an 8-2 run to go back in front 23-21.
The seesaw battle continued as the lead changed five times in the final six minutes. Trailing by two at the 1:45 mark, 33-31, the Raiders closed with a 7-2 run to take a 38-35 lead into the locker room. Polinski led Colgate with 11 points, including three trifectas, while sophomore Melanie Cargle (Trotwood, Ohio) had nine. The Raiders shot 41.7 percent from the floor (15-of-36) in the opening session and 50 percent (6-of-12) from long range. Colgate forced the Crusaders into 10 first-half turnovers, while turning the ball over just seven times.
Holy Cross shot 42.9 percent (12-of-28) from the field and just 14.3 percent (1-of-7) from behind the arc.
Colgate opened the second half with the first basket to take a seven-point lead, 40-33, but the Crusaders stormed back with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 42 at the 17:42 mark. The Raiders jumped back in front for the final time, 53-50, on a three-pointer by Polinski at 9:55, but could not hold the lead as Holy Cross went on a 10-2 run to go ahead 60-55.
Shannon Bush put the Crusaders up for good with a pair of free throws at 9:13, helping Holy Cross to the 13-point victory.
Cargle finished with 13 points and six assists, while senior guard Megan Ballard (Atlanta, Ga.) had 12 points and seven assists. Junior Carly Brescacin (Tecumseh, Ontario) led the charge on the boards with a career-high 10 rebounds and three steals.
Holy Cross’s Kaitlin Foley led all scorers on the evening with 21 points and a team-high eight boards, while both Brittany Keil and Laura Aloisi had 11 points apiece.
Colgate shot 36.4 percent for the game and just 30 percent in the second half, while the Crusaders finished 45.2 percent from the field. The Raiders turned the ball over 16 times in the second half.
